Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-30

MIR. Ferguson came forward.
Il beg your pardon for entering
without knocking" he was saying to
Miss Patience, whose back was toward
him. but / never supposed the
school-room was occupied at this hour.
suppose the heavy rain drowned my
step. 1t came pelting down SO, just as
| was passing, that | was glad for any
refuge And then / heard the voice of
nv little chatterbox here"
He broke off, for he was now stand
ing on the hearth, facing the school
mistress.
Miss Patience had made one hurried
effort to reach out after her discarded
cap and glasses, which she knew, when
she laid them off, that she could easily
adjust at the first sound of the approach
ing wheels Of the hall carriage.
But the cap and front had slipped to
the hearth-rug. Mr.. Ferguson had set
his foot inadvertently upon them.
Feeling something under-foot, and
seeing that the little schoolmistress
made him no manner of answer, but
kept her face bowed on LiGas's curls,
he stopped and in some amazement
picked up the grizzled front.
Certainly ne qua not know what to do
with it, He looked askance at the
schoolmistresS's bowed head. Or was
the shining head hers, or was it Lilias's?
They both glittered alike, with their
wealth of golden hair, there in the fire.
light.
He let that grizzled front fall from
his hold. He forgot all about it in
looking on that little schoolmistress.
"Bellp' he said very low; 'Bell!"
"Do you mean Lily-ben, papa?" asked
the child.
He did not even hear her.
"Bell!'' he said again.
This time the schoolmistress lifted
her cleaning head. She looked up at
him with eyes wild with pain. Her
arm frightened about the child.
Yes" she said hoarsely, Il know I
will have to go away. l know I was
mad to come come here. | was mad
wild and mad for glimpse Of the
child. But will 90 away"
He came a step nearer to her.
BELL, before you go away the second
time | demand to know why you went
the first"
ou CStn iI1C UllStG. Sl4C S1tltl DC-
tween her set teeth. 'sYouw
Il, who have the right to know why
my wife deserts me and her child"
She pressed her eager kisses on the
child's hair, the child who sat and
played with the great blue spectacles
on her lap, not needing anything
of the low and thrilling voices around
her.
Il left the child" she answered him.
''because knew I could trust her al
least with you. And it was better fol
her; she would be quite happy, she
would forget And -Harold, do .ou
think did not care, that it would be
better and happier for you to have
Lily-bell's little innocent life in youl
keeping?"
She held up her left hand, ringless
THAT night found I had no right
to wear your wedding-ring-'
Bell! Are you mad?'
THAT night went ON, trying
to steady her trembling lips 'sthai
night that other woman came and tolC
you to your face that she was Harold
Ferguson's wife, Haunting her marriage
certificate before you and daring you
to prove that she lied
Bell! And | was SO sure you had
not seen her!"
The poor thing hid her working face
in the child's curls.
''And you would condemn me utter
ly!' he said; without word, without
! giving me a chance"
''What could be the good of that-ol
of this?" she answered brokenly. "You
never denied that marriage certificate,
L could see as much in your stricken
face before [ crept out at the library
window on the terrace, where had fall
en- asleep among the curtains, when you
and she came in there. Oh, / never
thought you meant it Haroldi No doubt
you had married her long before, when
you were SO young you hardly
knew what you were doing-and YOU
thought the woman was dead No
doubt it was all her fault, the-the
mistake, she looked a cruel and a
wicked woman. But what else could
| do than just to creep away?-to die,
[ thought. But misery does not killr'
she cried out with bitter laugh.
BELL, did you ever hear [ hac a
brother?"
"A brother? Never"
"A brother who had fled the country
for the crime of forgery? 1t is no
wonder that you never heard of it. NY
proud old father would never let his
name be mentioned among US when we
moved to this distant part of the
country, and built our fortunes anew
here where no one had ever heard of
the crime and shame of Harry Fer
gnson."
'Harry-Ferguson?"
Her voice died in gasp.
"Ah, now you see how you misunder-
stood the name on that certificate, and
how it was thunderbolt to me-"
There was one long, long moment of
dead silence.
Then Bell Ferguson put her child
from her lap and fell down on her
knees, her elasped hands raised. her
pale face wet.
$50, Lily-bell-ask papa if it is too
late indeed-if he could let me come
and be your mammal"
And so when Norah presently arrived